Stewart stands up to tough questions

Before taping of "The Daily Show," host Jon Stewart loosens up by answering questions from the audience. Some excerpts from this week in Boston:

Back when you were in college were you known for the same things as you are today?My college years were all bits and satires. No, I was known for actually making a bong out of almost any bottle.

How's the baby?(Looking alarmed, walking toward the exit) Oh, [bleep]! What have you heard? No, the baby [Nathan] is three weeks and three days, something like that. (Wild applause) Thank you for applauding my ability to keep a child alive.

What other country would you feel comfortable living in?What other country? Are you with immigration? (voice quaking) Am I in trouble? Do I have to flee? ... I wouldn't mind living in Canada because there I'd be considered a thug, like a tough guy. They're so polite. "That's a really nice coat. Give it to me!" They'd be like, "OK." ... No, I like it here. It's nice. We have a lot of accessible snacks. People seem nice. All my [stuff's] here.

Do you ever get direct feedback for your work ... from the Bush Administration?Are you suggesting that they are going to invade my building? No, we don't really get direct feedback from anybody at all except the audience that's there for our live show because we're working all day. We sit in that little room and we write and do everything and then we do the show. If you guys laugh, that's our feedback. The Bush Administration or the Clinton Administration or the possible future Kerry Administration doesn't care about us.

Can I get a job as a writer for the show?It's not a meritocracy. It's very much like politics. It's greasing the wheels. It's patronage. Sexual favors ...